The New York State Education Department offers several teaching certificates. You’ll need one to teach in Rochester. Choose the right certificate for you and learn more about what you need to do to apply for it.
Initial Certificate
The Initial Certificate provides the entry-level credentials needed to teach in a NYS K-12 school for the first five years and can be pursued through an undergraduate, graduate, or alternative program. It is also the first step toward Professional Certification, which is needed to maintain a teaching license in New York State. If you are seeking certification for the first time, you are seeking an Initial Certificate.
All individuals seeking an Initial Certificate must complete the following requirements:
- Certification Exams
- Education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) in your area of specialization
- Educating All Students (EAS) Test
- Content Specialty Test (CST) in your area of specialization
- Certification Workshops
- Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop
- Child Abuse Identification Workshop
- School Violence Intervention and Prevention Workshop
- Other Requirements
Additional requirements may exist depending on the area of specialization.
Professional Certificate
The Professional Certificate is needed to continue to teach in NYS K-12 schools beyond the first five years and requires a master’s degree meeting certain requirements as well as a minimum of three years of teaching experience. In some circumstances, you can request a time extension for the initial certificate from NYSED.
All individuals seeking a Professional Certificate must complete the following requirements:
- Education
- Successful completion of an approved master’s degree
- Experience
- Three (3) years of classroom teaching experience (including one year as a mentored experience verified by your employer)
Additional requirements may exist depending on the area of specialization.
Transitional B Certificate
The Transitional B Certificate is issued to permit the employment of a candidate as a classroom teacher in a New York State K-12 school. You must be enrolled in a New York State approved Transitional B program. This certificate is valid for three years while you are matriculated in the Transitional B program. When you complete or leave the program, the certificate is no longer valid. The Transitional B Certificate leads to the Initial Certificate, which will be issued upon program completion.
All individuals seeking the Transitional B Certificate must complete the following requirements:
- Certification Exams
- Education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) in your area of specialization
- Educating All Students (EAS) Test
- Content Specialty Test (CST) in your area of specialization
- Certification Workshops
- Dignity For All Students Act (DASA) Workshop
- Child Abuse Identification Workshop
- School Violence Intervention and Prevention Workshop
- Other Requirements
- Fingerprint Clearance
- Apply to NYSED to require a Transitional B Certificate
Additional requirements may exist depending on the area of specialization.
Transitional C Certificate
The Transitional C Certificate is issued to permit the employment of a candidate as a classroom teacher in a New York State K-12 school. You must be enrolled in a New York State approved Transitional C program. This certificate is valid for three years while you are matriculated in the Transitional C program. When you complete or leave the program, the certificate is no longer valid. The Transitional C Certificate leads to the Professional Certificate, which will be issued upon program completion. While there are no local Transitional C programs in Rochester, please find a list of New York Transitional C programs here.
All individuals seeking the Transitional C Certificate must complete the following requirements:
- Certification Exams
- Education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) in your area of specialization
- Educating All Students (EAS) Test
- Content Specialty Test (CST) in your area of specialization
- Certification Workshops
- Dignity For All Students Act (DASA) Workshop
- Child Abuse Identification Workshop
- School Violence Intervention and Prevention Workshop
- Other Requirements
- Fingerprint Clearance
- Apply to NYSED to require a Transitional C Certificate
Additional requirements may exist depending on the area of specialization.
Conditional Initial Certificate
The Conditional Initial Certificate is issued to individuals holding a valid teaching certificate in the same or equivalent title from another U.S. State or Territory. This certificate is valid for one year, during which the applicant must complete and pass the New York State edTPA assessment.
All individuals seeking a Conditional Initial Certificate must meet the following requirements:
- Teacher Certificate
- Must hold a valid teacher certificate from another U.S. State or Territory
- Certification Workshops
- Dignity For All Students Act (DASA) Workshop
- Child Abuse Identification Workshop
- School Violence Intervention and Prevention Workshop
- Other Requirements
- Fingerprint Clearance
Additional requirements may exist depending on the area of specialization.